Safety and Infection Control
30%of exam
Client Consultation and Analysis
19%of exam
Client ConsultationHair Skin Nail AnalysisPatch TestContraindications
Hairstyling
2%of exam
Thermal ToolsTextured StylingHairpiecesBlowdrying
Haircutting
3%of exam
Haircoloring
10%of exam
Chemical Texture Services
12%of exam
Skin Care
4%of exam
Massage MovementsExfoliation TypesFacial ServicesCallus Removal
Eyelash and Eyebrow
4%of exam
Lash Brow SafetyLash ExtensionsTinting RulesAdhesive Removal
Hair Removal
8%of exam
Nail Care
8%of exam
Quick Facts
- Exam
- Cosmetologist Theory Exam
- Body
- IDFPR via CTS/PSI
- Questions
- 110 (100 scored + 10 pretest)
- Time
- 120 minutes
- Pass
- 75 or higher
- Fee
- $200 (all 5 languages)
- Outline
- Effective October 1, 2026
Decon Ladder
Clean -> Disinfect -> Sterilize
Clean: soilDisinfect: most germsSterilize: all incl. spores
Disinfection vs Sterilization
Disinfection
- Chemical process
- Kills most microbes
- Not spores
Sterilization
- Physical or chemical
- Kills all life
- Includes spores
Routine vs total kill
Disinfection Level Picker
- Visible soil on tool→Clean first(Always first step)
- Routine implement disinfecting→EPA disinfectant(Hospital-grade)
- Need to kill spores→Sterilize(Autoclave)
- Porous single-use item→Discard(Never disinfect)
- Client cut occurs→Stop, bandage(Then disinfect station)
Decontamination Levels
- Cleaning
- Removes visible soil
- Disinfection
- Kills most microbes
- Sterilization
- Kills all life, spores
- Hospital-grade
- EPA-registered: bacteria, viruses, fungi
- Contact time
- Full label time required
- Autoclave
- Steam sterilizer example
Top 4 Weighted Areas
Safety > Consult > Texture > Color
Safety: 30%Consult: 19%Texture: 12%Color: 10%
Workplace Safety Rules
- SDS
- Safety Data Sheet per chemical
- OSHA
- Worker safety rules
- EPA
- Registers disinfectants
- FDA
- Regulates cosmetic products
- Ventilation
- Clears chemical fumes
- Electrical safety
- Intact cords, dry hands
Single-Use Disposables
- Orangewood stick
- Discard after one use
- Cotton, gauze
- Discard after one use
- Neck strip
- Fresh strip per client
- Emery board
- Porous, single-use
- Pumice stone
- Porous, single-use
- Buffer block
- Porous, single-use
Exposure Incident Steps
- Stop service
- First response to a cut
- Gloves on
- Before touching blood
- Clean + bandage
- Treat the wound
- Double-bag waste
- Blood-contaminated items
- Disinfect station
- Before resuming service
Porosity vs Elasticity
Porosity
- Cuticle condition
- Absorbs chemicals
- Feel test
Elasticity
- Stretch and return
- Bond strength sign
- Wet stretch test
Absorb vs stretch
Client Consultation Steps
- Intake form
- Health, allergy history
- Consent form
- Before chemical service
- Contraindication
- Reason to decline, modify
- Medical referral
- Suspected disease sign
- Patch test
- 24-48 hrs before color
Hair, Skin, Nail Analysis
- Porosity
- Cuticle's chemical absorption
- Elasticity
- Stretch and return
- Texture
- Strand diameter
- Density
- Strands per square inch
- Resistant hair
- Low porosity, slow process
- Overporous hair
- Fast processing, weak
Hairstyling Precautions
- Thermal iron
- Test on tissue first
- Dry hair only
- Wet hair steams, burns
- Comb shield
- Protects scalp from heat
- Low heat
- Fine or damaged hair
Haircutting Safety
- Curly hair
- Cut dry, extra length
- Straight hair
- Precise sections matter
- Razor caution
- Avoid on fragile hair
- Tool check
- Inspect shears, clippers
Lightening Stages
Red-brown -> Red -> Orange -> Gold -> Yellow
Red-brown: darkest stageOrange: mid stageGold: near targetPale yellow: lightest
Virgin vs Retouch Color
Virgin application
- First-time color
- Mid-shaft and ends first
- Full strand
Retouch
- New growth only
- Avoids overlap
- Protects prior color
First time vs new growth
Haircolor Application Order
- Virgin color, going lighter→Mid-shaft first(Avoid hot roots)
- Retouch application→New growth only(Avoid overlap)
- Unwanted orange tone→Blue-based toner(Complementary color)
- Before first color service→Patch test(24-48 hrs prior)
Hair Color Chemistry
- Alkalizer
- Swells cuticle (ammonia/MEA)
- Developer
- Oxygen, lightens melanin
- 10 volume
- 3% peroxide, minimal lift
- 20 volume
- 6% peroxide, standard lift
- Virgin app
- Mid-shaft and ends first
- Retouch
- New growth only
Lightening Stages (Warm)
- Red-brown
- First decolorization stage
- Red
- Second stage
- Orange
- Mid stage
- Gold
- Near-target warm stage
- Pale yellow
- Lightest natural stage
Perm Steps
Wrap -> Process -> Test curl -> Neutralize
Wrap: rodsProcess: thio reducesTest: check S-shapeNeutralize: oxidizes, locks
Thio Perm vs Hydroxide Relaxer
Thio perm
- Reduction
- Breaks and rebuilds bonds
- Oxidation neutralizer
Hydroxide relaxer
- Lanthionization
- Permanent bond change
- No bond rebuild
Bonds rebuilt vs bonds converted
Chemical Texture Service Picker
- Temporary curl change wanted→Roller set(Not chemical)
- Permanent curl, virgin hair→Thio perm(Reduction)
- Permanent straight, virgin hair→Hydroxide relaxer(Lanthionization)
- Retouch, new growth only→Base cream on old hair(Protects prior service)
- Hair was hydroxide-relaxed→Avoid thio perm(Incompatible chemistry)
Perm Chemistry
- Thio lotion
- Breaks disulfide bonds
- Reduction
- Softens, reshapes bond
- Test curl
- Checks processing progress
- Neutralizer
- Hydrogen peroxide, oxidizes
- Rebonding
- Locks in new curl
Relaxer Chemistry
- Hydroxide
- pH above 13
- Lanthionization
- Permanent bond change
- Base cream
- Protects scalp first
- Strand test
- Checks relaxing progress
- Neutral shampoo
- Acid-balanced, no rebuild
Mechanical vs Chemical Exfoliation
Mechanical
- Physical scrub or brush
- Immediate result
- Any skin type
Chemical
- AHA, BHA, enzymes
- Dissolves cell bonds
- Sun sensitivity risk
Physical vs acid
Skin Care Techniques
- Effleurage
- Light stroking, soothing
- Petrissage
- Kneading, deeper stimulation
- Tapotement
- Tapping, most stimulating
- Mechanical exfoliation
- Physical scrub or brush
- Chemical exfoliation
- AHA, BHA, enzymes
Lash and Brow Safety
- Isolation
- One lash per extension
- No lid contact
- Adhesive stays off skin
- Brow dye ban
- No scalp hair dye
- Patch test
- Before a tinting service
Depilatory vs Epilation
Depilatory
- Chemical dissolve
- Surface removal
- Fast regrowth
Epilation
- Follicle removal
- Wax, tweeze, thread
- Longer-lasting
Dissolve vs pull
Hair Removal Method Picker
- Face, sensitive skin area→Hard wax(No strip needed)
- Large body area→Soft wax(Strip removes it)
- No chemical, follicle removal→Tweeze or thread(Epilation)
- Quick surface removal only→Depilatory(Regrows fast)
Hair Removal Methods
- Depilatory
- Chemical, dissolves at surface
- Epilation
- Removes from the follicle
- Soft wax
- Strip removes it
- Hard wax
- Self-lifts, no strip
- Fresh applicator
- Never redip the stick
Overlay vs Extension
Overlay
- Adds strength
- No added length
- Natural nail only
Extension
- Adds length
- Tip or form built
- Plus strength
Strength vs length
Nail Care Terms
- Liquid-and-powder
- Acrylic, polymerizes hard
- UV/LED gel
- Cures only under light
- Hard gel
- Files off, no soak
- Overlay
- Strength, no added length
- Extension
- Adds length and strength
- MMA ban
- No methyl methacrylate monomer
- Basin cleaning
- Required after each client
Common Traps
Cleaning vs Disinfecting
Cleaning removes soil only ≠ Disinfecting kills most microbes
Depilatory vs Epilator
Depilatory dissolves at surface ≠ Epilator pulls from follicle
Virgin vs Retouch Color
Virgin covers full strand ≠ Retouch covers new growth only
Porosity vs Elasticity
Porosity is absorption ≠ Elasticity is stretch and return
MMA vs EMA Nail Liquid
MMA monomer is banned ≠ EMA monomer is legal
Overlay vs Extension
Overlay adds strength only ≠ Extension adds length too
Soft Wax vs Hard Wax
Soft wax needs a strip ≠ Hard wax self-lifts, no strip
Last Minute
- 1.Safety and Infection Control = 30%
- 2.Client Consultation and Analysis = 19%
- 3.Chemical Texture Services = 12% weight
- 4.Haircoloring is 10% of the exam
- 5.Hair Removal is 8% weighted
- 6.Nail Care is also 8% weighted
- 7.Skin Care is 4% weighted
- 8.Eyelash and Eyebrow is 4%
- 9.Haircutting 3%; Hairstyling 2%
- 10.110 questions: 100 scored, 10 pretest
- 11.120-minute limit; pass score is 75
- 12.Fee $200 in all five languages
- 13.Fail 3x: refresher course required
- 14.3 years to apply after passing
Third-party resources · We may earn a commission from purchases.
Cosmetology State Board Exam Study Guide: Complete Written & Practical Prep Workbook for the State Board Exam — Theory Review, Practice Tests, and Step-by-Step Study System
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